1 00:00:01,240 --> 00:00:05,080 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Wired to Hunt Foundations podcast, your guide 2 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:08,879 Speaker 1: to the fundamentals of better deer hunting, presented by first Light, 3 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 1: creating proven versatile hunting apparel for the stand, saddle or blind. 4 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:18,640 Speaker 1: First Light, Go Farther, Stay Longer, and now your host 5 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:19,880 Speaker 1: Tony Peterson. 6 00:00:20,239 --> 00:00:22,759 Speaker 2: Hey, everyone, welcome to the Wired to Hunt Foundation's podcast, 7 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:24,439 Speaker 2: which is brought to you by first Light. I'm your host, 8 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:27,000 Speaker 2: Tony Peterson, and in today's episode is all about call 9 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:30,240 Speaker 2: sense decoys and when you should use or get rich 10 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 2: quick products during the run. 11 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:35,440 Speaker 1: This is it. 12 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:37,920 Speaker 2: All those days you didn't hunt because it was a 13 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:39,720 Speaker 2: better idea to stay out of the woods, you know, 14 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:41,880 Speaker 2: and get in there when they getting should be good. Well, 15 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:44,360 Speaker 2: that's right now. This is the time for dark to 16 00:00:44,479 --> 00:00:46,920 Speaker 2: dark sits, or at least for some folks to pretend 17 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:49,839 Speaker 2: that's what they do. It's the time for hostess cupcakes 18 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:52,959 Speaker 2: and tree stands, selfies and every damn trick you can 19 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:55,640 Speaker 2: use to bring a big one into bowt range. Those 20 00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:58,280 Speaker 2: tricks in when you should use them are what I 21 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:00,920 Speaker 2: plan to talk about right now. So buckle up because 22 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 2: it's time to dive into the fun part about rut hunter. 23 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 2: I've talked about this a few times, so I'm just 24 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 2: gonna give you a quick recap here to sort of 25 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:15,759 Speaker 2: frame this up. Back in twenty twenty three, I drove 26 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:18,400 Speaker 2: one of my daughters over to north central Wisconsin for 27 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:20,679 Speaker 2: a week into rut hunting, and we had a Dave 28 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:22,160 Speaker 2: Smith dough in the back of the truck and a 29 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:25,680 Speaker 2: simple plan just put the dough out somewhere visible and wait. 30 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:29,120 Speaker 2: My reasoning, besides it being the run, was that the 31 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:31,880 Speaker 2: deer density was so low there that any buck that 32 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:34,080 Speaker 2: laid eyes on that fake lady would probably come in. 33 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:36,640 Speaker 2: It took about ninety two percent of an all day 34 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:38,760 Speaker 2: sit for that to happen. When it did, it was 35 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:40,640 Speaker 2: one of the coolest things I've ever witnessed it, and 36 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 2: I can promise you it changed my daughter as a 37 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:42,959 Speaker 2: deer hunter. 38 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:43,560 Speaker 1: Now. 39 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:45,679 Speaker 2: A week later, I did the same thing with that decoy, 40 00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 2: and when that roly poly swamp buck laid eyes on 41 00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:50,840 Speaker 2: the decoy was like watching a carbon copy of my 42 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:53,000 Speaker 2: daughter's hunt, but was just like a little bit bigger 43 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:56,760 Speaker 2: deer going two four two with a decoy was incredible. 44 00:01:57,080 --> 00:01:59,320 Speaker 2: And then I took that sucker home and had a 45 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 2: little bucks circle it on my first hunt back home, 46 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 2: when I put the decoy out in Minnesota, it was crazy. 47 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 2: I felt like I had unlocked a rout cheat code 48 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 2: with that decoy, to the point where last year when 49 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:12,240 Speaker 2: I went down to Iowa to hunt some public land, 50 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:14,240 Speaker 2: I took it with me, thinking that it was going 51 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:16,360 Speaker 2: to be a big part of it. I put it 52 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:18,240 Speaker 2: out on a river bottom and eventually I had a 53 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:20,519 Speaker 2: buck commit to it who put on a real show 54 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:22,640 Speaker 2: and it was one of the coolest things I've seen, 55 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:24,959 Speaker 2: which by the way, you can see too because we 56 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:26,760 Speaker 2: filmed it and now it's up on the med Eater 57 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 2: YouTube channel. But in between those successful hunts, I got 58 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:33,680 Speaker 2: so confident in that decoy that I used it in 59 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 2: places where it just didn't make as much sense, like 60 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:39,480 Speaker 2: one stand in the woods on a pond here in Minnesota, 61 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:41,839 Speaker 2: where I just tried to force it. I even had 62 00:02:41,919 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 2: bucks walk by and see it, but they didn't commit. 63 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:47,919 Speaker 2: There is not only a right time, but a right 64 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:51,000 Speaker 2: place for rut tricks, And to take that a step further, 65 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 2: you got to try to put yourself in a buck shoes, 66 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 2: mostly to make up for the reality that it wouldn't 67 00:02:56,320 --> 00:02:59,919 Speaker 2: work every time with the decoy, I tried adding scent 68 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:02,800 Speaker 2: on the ground behind it. I tried calling, but what 69 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:05,360 Speaker 2: I realized what there was just spots where that decoy 70 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:07,919 Speaker 2: would work, you know, like I was hunting on easy Moon, 71 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:09,600 Speaker 2: and there were other times where it was just like 72 00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:12,800 Speaker 2: I was hunting with no decoy at all. This was, 73 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:15,919 Speaker 2: you know, kind of like the decoy version of blindly 74 00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:18,480 Speaker 2: rattling on a field edge every ten minutes during the rut, 75 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:21,799 Speaker 2: when you're just trying to force something to happen. It's 76 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:24,240 Speaker 2: just not always the right situation for it. And the 77 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:27,680 Speaker 2: deer will tell you this probably saves more big bucks 78 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 2: than anything, and I can almost promise you that it'll 79 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 2: save a pile of them this season, especially on pressured 80 00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 2: ground as panic hunters try to make something happen. I'm 81 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 2: a firm believer that one of the ways to get 82 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 2: better at decision making is to give yourself time to 83 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:44,200 Speaker 2: think about stuff. I know that might sound dumb or simple, 84 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 2: but ever since I started running a lot, I realized 85 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:48,360 Speaker 2: that it's one of the few times my brain isn't 86 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:53,320 Speaker 2: totally distracted by just constant stuff. I can work through 87 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 2: problems when I'm running and just sort of live out 88 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:58,760 Speaker 2: scenarios to see where different outcomes would take me. And 89 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:01,760 Speaker 2: when it comes to using send calls or decoys or whatever, 90 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:04,440 Speaker 2: we often don't put a lot of thought into them 91 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 2: past a simple criteria, which is, well, it's the right 92 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 2: time of the year because it's the rut and I'm 93 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 2: going to one of the spots I like, that might 94 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:17,600 Speaker 2: just be it. But think about this example. Steve Vernella 95 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:19,600 Speaker 2: texted me a few weeks back about a rut hunt 96 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:22,159 Speaker 2: we're doing in Nebraska this year for a show. He 97 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:24,360 Speaker 2: wanted to know what I thought about rattling down there, 98 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:26,480 Speaker 2: and I told him he can rattle all he wants, 99 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:29,520 Speaker 2: I just don't think he'll be very effective. Here's what 100 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:32,640 Speaker 2: happened there. He's been hunting Texas quite a bit for 101 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:34,839 Speaker 2: white tails and to kill them in a cool way 102 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:37,480 Speaker 2: on film. They've been rattling and using decoys a lot. 103 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:41,280 Speaker 2: But Texas, especially private land that has managed for big 104 00:04:41,279 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 2: deer and lots of them, just a different world. It's 105 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 2: a high density of a deer down there, like a 106 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:49,240 Speaker 2: really high density in a lot of places. Ii've hunted 107 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:51,359 Speaker 2: Texas in some of those places, and it's kind of 108 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:54,600 Speaker 2: hard to describe how thick the deer really are. They 109 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:57,360 Speaker 2: have a lot of competition. The bucks bump into each 110 00:04:57,400 --> 00:05:00,400 Speaker 2: other all the time, and the terrain is just such 111 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 2: that there's like a lot of openings and pockets in 112 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:05,599 Speaker 2: between those mosquite flats and oak mots. At least in 113 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:07,159 Speaker 2: a lot of the state, it's like that, you know, 114 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:10,880 Speaker 2: not all of the state. Rattling where he rattled makes sense. 115 00:05:11,279 --> 00:05:13,120 Speaker 2: Those deer have to fight a lot, and they are 116 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 2: in constant competition with each other for doze and for territory. 117 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 2: On the Nebraska ranch we're hunting, the deer numbers are 118 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:23,640 Speaker 2: scary low, like scary low. The bucks are going to 119 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:26,120 Speaker 2: be looking for dos sure, but I don't see a 120 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:28,440 Speaker 2: world in which they'll be conditioned to charge into a 121 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:32,159 Speaker 2: buck fight at the drop of a hat. Could they Sure, 122 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:35,000 Speaker 2: deer fight everywhere at some point, and it's not crazy 123 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:37,600 Speaker 2: to think they might. But a far better strategy than 124 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:41,039 Speaker 2: offering up the appearance of two angry bucks, at least 125 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:43,159 Speaker 2: in my view, is to offer them what they are 126 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 2: looking for, what they're lacking, Because you know, a fight 127 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 2: can cause them to lose their eyes or their dignity, 128 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:53,880 Speaker 2: but a dough won't. So I told him he can 129 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:55,440 Speaker 2: rattle all he wants, But I'm going to live and 130 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:57,160 Speaker 2: die by pinch points, and if I have to, I'm 131 00:05:57,200 --> 00:05:59,840 Speaker 2: gonna put out a dough ecoy. Those bucks down there, 132 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:02,120 Speaker 2: I don't have a lot of options. If a doe 133 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:04,720 Speaker 2: comes into Astris, it's gonna be a big deal. They're 134 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:07,279 Speaker 2: gonna have to cover ground, They're gonna have to work 135 00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 2: to find a girlfriend. The game will just be different 136 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:12,920 Speaker 2: there because of the low density. Will I have rattling 137 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:16,280 Speaker 2: antlers with me, I don't know, probably, But will they 138 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 2: stay in my truck most of the time. Probably? I 139 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:21,479 Speaker 2: will have some deer calls with me, because there's just 140 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:23,880 Speaker 2: a different vibe when you're dealing with a soft contact 141 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:26,800 Speaker 2: grunt or some tending grunts versus trying to make it 142 00:06:26,839 --> 00:06:29,200 Speaker 2: sound like two bucks are fighting. And before I move 143 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:31,279 Speaker 2: off of that notion, let me say what I've said 144 00:06:31,279 --> 00:06:34,359 Speaker 2: many times before. If you're going to rattle, consider what 145 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:37,080 Speaker 2: you're trying to convey. This isn't the time of year 146 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 2: for light sparring. This is like bar clothes at two am, 147 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:43,000 Speaker 2: and all the vodka red bull fueled dudes who never 148 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:45,240 Speaker 2: left your hometown are keyed up and ready to prove 149 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:48,520 Speaker 2: why they wear affliction t shirts make it sound like 150 00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 2: a fight. And if you've never heard too actual real 151 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:54,360 Speaker 2: bucks fight, it's eye opening. It'll change the way you 152 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:57,719 Speaker 2: think about rattling. I've only seen a handful of bucks, 153 00:06:57,760 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 2: you know, really fight, but every one of them was 154 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:04,640 Speaker 2: a complete soundscape, and not just disembodied racks clashing and 155 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:08,479 Speaker 2: grinding together. They break sticks, they crash around, and they 156 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:11,280 Speaker 2: sound like a pair of two hundred pound animals who 157 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:13,680 Speaker 2: are trying to kill each other. If you want to 158 00:07:13,760 --> 00:07:16,480 Speaker 2: rattle and sell the ruse, make them believe what they 159 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 2: expect to hear. Now, with this style of rattling, and 160 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:22,440 Speaker 2: honestly all of calling, you really want to think about 161 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:25,200 Speaker 2: where you are, where the deer should be, and what 162 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:29,360 Speaker 2: they'll do if they commit, and also what will happen 163 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:31,600 Speaker 2: if they commit but do so on the downwind side, 164 00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:34,480 Speaker 2: which is very very common with all kinds of calling. 165 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:37,840 Speaker 2: So let's think about this. If you're making the noise 166 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:41,280 Speaker 2: of a deer, the deer are expecting to well see 167 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:43,880 Speaker 2: a deer. In this case of rattling, they expect to 168 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 2: see two. Now, what if you're in a wide open 169 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:49,200 Speaker 2: river bank out west, perch in a cottonwood tree and 170 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:50,920 Speaker 2: you see a buck about to pass at one hundred 171 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:54,680 Speaker 2: yards and you instinctively grab those antlers. Well, that dear 172 00:07:54,760 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 2: is definitely going to hear you. He's definitely going to 173 00:07:57,400 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 2: look over at your tree, and he's definitely going to 174 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 2: see no bucks, and probably that little warning light on 175 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:05,640 Speaker 2: the dash of his brain is going to light up. 176 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:09,320 Speaker 2: That deer is a more prime candidate for some soft grunting, 177 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 2: or better yet, just to be left alone because the 178 00:08:11,880 --> 00:08:15,040 Speaker 2: scenario is not in your favor. But that buck sees 179 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 2: a decoy in your game changes. Now head on into 180 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:31,640 Speaker 2: the thick shit wherever you hunt, and you better leave 181 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:34,880 Speaker 2: that decoy at home. But remember that the calling game 182 00:08:34,920 --> 00:08:37,120 Speaker 2: is now going to change. Let's say you're on a 183 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:39,200 Speaker 2: washed out ravine on the side of a bluff where 184 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:41,719 Speaker 2: they can only cross in a few spots, and a 185 00:08:41,800 --> 00:08:44,480 Speaker 2: buck decides to cruise on the next crossing above you. 186 00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 2: That deer's looking for doze. He needs something to happen, 187 00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:51,320 Speaker 2: and if he hears a grunt, he can't immediately decide 188 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:55,120 Speaker 2: that there's no buck there and something is fishy. He 189 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:58,600 Speaker 2: is much better candidate for that contact call of some sort. 190 00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:00,839 Speaker 2: You know, whether it's actually a hunter, a bleach, or 191 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:04,559 Speaker 2: a snort wheeze. But again, this is something to think through. 192 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:08,120 Speaker 2: But the main point is he's a callable deer because 193 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:09,960 Speaker 2: he's already where he kind of wants to be, and 194 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:13,600 Speaker 2: he can't immediately decide that the noise he heard came 195 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:16,280 Speaker 2: from the ether and not from some deer standing there 196 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:18,680 Speaker 2: that he just can't see. Now, if you're hunting where 197 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 2: the pressure is high, you can bet your ass that 198 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:23,720 Speaker 2: every one of the other folks who hunts out there 199 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:26,640 Speaker 2: is going to at least have a grunt too, for sure. 200 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:29,719 Speaker 2: It's just kind of the go to for everyone. And 201 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:31,280 Speaker 2: you know, if you have a three year old buck 202 00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:34,440 Speaker 2: crossing through, that deer might have already been grunted to 203 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:37,959 Speaker 2: a dozen times this season. Now, when I'm in this situation, 204 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:40,640 Speaker 2: I either try to go big with a snort wheeze 205 00:09:40,679 --> 00:09:42,720 Speaker 2: a lot of times because most hunters are just too 206 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:45,000 Speaker 2: scared to use them, or I go the other direction 207 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:48,439 Speaker 2: with a dobe bleed. This is sort of a no harm, 208 00:09:48,520 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 2: no fall type of call, because a bleap means they 209 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:54,240 Speaker 2: just potentially aren't going to get their ass kicked at least. 210 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 2: It's also what they are generally looking for during the run. 211 00:09:57,360 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 2: Remember earlier when I said we all need to take 212 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:01,679 Speaker 2: some time to think through various scenarios in life so 213 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:05,160 Speaker 2: we are better prepared when they manifest into reality. That's 214 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:07,360 Speaker 2: the stuff I think about when I go into a 215 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:10,000 Speaker 2: stand or a blind I have a pretty good idea 216 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:11,800 Speaker 2: of the tricks I'll use if I happen to see 217 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:15,400 Speaker 2: a buck. I don't blind call, at least hardly, ever, 218 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:16,840 Speaker 2: so I'm not going to talk about that because I 219 00:10:16,840 --> 00:10:19,439 Speaker 2: just don't have much faith in blind calling anywhere ever. 220 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:23,080 Speaker 2: Your mileage may vary on that front. But when I 221 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:25,959 Speaker 2: sit in that stand, on that washed out ravine before 222 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:28,400 Speaker 2: it even gets light out, I have a pretty good 223 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:30,640 Speaker 2: idea how I'll make contact with a buck before I 224 00:10:30,679 --> 00:10:33,679 Speaker 2: see him. If he's really cruising, he's going to get 225 00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:35,880 Speaker 2: that bleep because I know his mind is on a dough. 226 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 2: If he's not given me a point A to B 227 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:41,800 Speaker 2: you know right now kind of vibes, he either gets 228 00:10:41,800 --> 00:10:44,520 Speaker 2: a grunt or more likely a snort wheeze, because that's 229 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:46,280 Speaker 2: a year who isn't sure what he's looking for. But 230 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:49,240 Speaker 2: if someone insults him, he can often be talked into 231 00:10:49,280 --> 00:10:52,840 Speaker 2: a fight. Where we get squirrely with this stuff, is 232 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 2: that mostly these products work against us when we encounter bucks, 233 00:10:57,240 --> 00:10:59,840 Speaker 2: we use them like we see in deer hunting con 234 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:02,240 Speaker 2: But I promise you that if you're listening to this, 235 00:11:02,559 --> 00:11:04,920 Speaker 2: you're probably not hunting the kind of ground that most 236 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:07,760 Speaker 2: deer hunting shows are filmed on. You have to pay 237 00:11:07,760 --> 00:11:10,480 Speaker 2: attention to what your success rate is when you try 238 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:12,800 Speaker 2: these tricks, and what the body language of the buck 239 00:11:12,920 --> 00:11:16,560 Speaker 2: shows before and after contact. And you have to consider 240 00:11:16,920 --> 00:11:20,079 Speaker 2: what works on your home farm that you leave alone 241 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 2: all season until the rut, and that that might not 242 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:24,560 Speaker 2: mirror what will work when you head out on the 243 00:11:24,640 --> 00:11:28,560 Speaker 2: road for your first public land deer hunt. When you 244 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:31,240 Speaker 2: think about why you sit where you sit, and when 245 00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:33,719 Speaker 2: you hunt this spot not that one, and what you 246 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:36,280 Speaker 2: think the deer should be doing right now, you're taking 247 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:39,800 Speaker 2: into account a ton of variables. That's how good decisions 248 00:11:39,800 --> 00:11:42,880 Speaker 2: are made, pros and cons and all that jazz. But 249 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:45,400 Speaker 2: just using a deer call or a decoy because it's 250 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:48,200 Speaker 2: the rut doesn't really work like it should because that's 251 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:50,440 Speaker 2: a decision that should be made around the right variables 252 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:53,760 Speaker 2: as well, and so should the use of sense. There 253 00:11:53,840 --> 00:11:55,600 Speaker 2: was a long time in my hunting career where I 254 00:11:55,640 --> 00:11:57,920 Speaker 2: used a hell of a lot of different sense. When 255 00:11:57,920 --> 00:11:59,800 Speaker 2: I was at bow Hunter Magazine, I used to get 256 00:11:59,840 --> 00:12:02,920 Speaker 2: sen boxes of sense from all the major players, and 257 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:05,760 Speaker 2: let me tell you, I tried pretty hard to make 258 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:08,240 Speaker 2: them work in a lot of different situations. You know 259 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:10,880 Speaker 2: what I found. Let me put it this way, I 260 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:12,920 Speaker 2: can't remember the last time I used scent other than 261 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:15,959 Speaker 2: they give my daughters a little extra confidence. Scents and 262 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:18,320 Speaker 2: lures were all of the rags for a long long 263 00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:20,800 Speaker 2: time in the bow hunting industry, and I can remember 264 00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:23,040 Speaker 2: countless times when my dad would set up to drag 265 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:25,640 Speaker 2: a rag as it's called, to give bucks a chance 266 00:12:25,679 --> 00:12:27,840 Speaker 2: to run across the scent of a hot dough and 267 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:31,280 Speaker 2: follow it right into a setup. It worked, you know, 268 00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:35,280 Speaker 2: once or twice, but mostly didn't. Is there really any 269 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:39,960 Speaker 2: danger in trying, though, I'd say maybe. When you invite 270 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:41,920 Speaker 2: a deer to go where you go, you invite them 271 00:12:41,920 --> 00:12:45,120 Speaker 2: to smell you, and they will. Mostly. Most of the time, 272 00:12:45,160 --> 00:12:47,200 Speaker 2: we use scentwix loaded with the good stuff to try 273 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:49,040 Speaker 2: to bring in a buck, and most of the time 274 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:51,640 Speaker 2: it just won't. A better bet is to use it 275 00:12:51,679 --> 00:12:54,559 Speaker 2: as guardrails for a hunt you believe will already produce 276 00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:58,000 Speaker 2: a close encounter. So instead of hanging nine cent wiks 277 00:12:58,000 --> 00:12:59,760 Speaker 2: in a tree on a field edge like you're decorating 278 00:12:59,760 --> 00:13:03,160 Speaker 2: a pea Christmas tree, think about your setups in relation 279 00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:05,719 Speaker 2: to the wind and the predicted deer travel. You know 280 00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:08,080 Speaker 2: what trails can you shoot and what trails can you 281 00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:10,280 Speaker 2: not shoot. A buck that is set to pass by 282 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:12,480 Speaker 2: at forty seven yards and eventually get down wind of 283 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:14,679 Speaker 2: view might get a whiff of a cent which can 284 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:17,960 Speaker 2: close that crucial yardage to get into range at that point. 285 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:20,360 Speaker 2: It's really a cost benefit thing, and the downsides are 286 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:23,640 Speaker 2: probably low. Maybe you expect them to cruise through your 287 00:13:23,640 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 2: shooting window in record time because it's just too tight 288 00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:28,880 Speaker 2: and you're worried you won't get a shot or won't 289 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:30,960 Speaker 2: be able to stop them without having them freak out. 290 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:33,920 Speaker 2: Then the right scent there can buy you enough time 291 00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:37,000 Speaker 2: to shoot them while they are preoccupied with suddenly smelling 292 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:40,240 Speaker 2: estros dopey four feet up in a tree. The idea 293 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:42,880 Speaker 2: that a buck will smell a scent trap you've laid 294 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:46,520 Speaker 2: out from far away and come to it is mostly flawed. 295 00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:48,720 Speaker 2: They just aren't going to smell it from all that 296 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:51,559 Speaker 2: far away, So instead it's better to look at your 297 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:54,160 Speaker 2: setups and see if you can influence their behavior when 298 00:13:54,160 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 2: they already get close to the red zone. But again, 299 00:13:56,920 --> 00:13:59,360 Speaker 2: if you can predict that, you probably don't need to 300 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:02,720 Speaker 2: lean too head beyond extra stuff since you're already almost there. 301 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:05,000 Speaker 2: But there are variables that come into play with every 302 00:14:05,040 --> 00:14:08,000 Speaker 2: setup where it might make total sense to refresh a 303 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:10,959 Speaker 2: scrape near your stand or hang a sentwick in a 304 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:14,280 Speaker 2: strategic location to change a buck's behavior when he gets close. 305 00:14:15,280 --> 00:14:16,960 Speaker 2: I guess what I really want to highlight with this 306 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:20,840 Speaker 2: episode is this, don't just use rut tricks, because it's 307 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:24,120 Speaker 2: the rut that's a lost cause reality that could very 308 00:14:24,120 --> 00:14:27,520 Speaker 2: well work against you. You might think that blindly rattling 309 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:31,000 Speaker 2: during primetime is sort of a net neutral because the 310 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:33,360 Speaker 2: bucks should be fighting. That is not how it works, 311 00:14:34,240 --> 00:14:37,920 Speaker 2: because what bucks and where what type of fighting are 312 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:40,640 Speaker 2: you mimicking. The best way to use this stuff correctly 313 00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:42,840 Speaker 2: is to think about it beforehand, and then when you 314 00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 2: get into your spot, really read the situation to decide 315 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:48,800 Speaker 2: what would be best, and then lean on those decisions 316 00:14:48,800 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 2: when he actually does show himself. And remember this, when 317 00:14:52,520 --> 00:14:56,040 Speaker 2: you do use calls or sense or decoys, you're asking 318 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:59,520 Speaker 2: for his attention and you will get it. There is 319 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:02,320 Speaker 2: a difference, you know, from a buck just naturally cruising 320 00:15:02,360 --> 00:15:04,280 Speaker 2: through on his way to find some ladies and a 321 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:07,360 Speaker 2: buck that goes from that mode to one where he 322 00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:11,680 Speaker 2: sees a deer or he smells a deer or he 323 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:15,880 Speaker 2: hears a deer. Suddenly, he's got a different mentality about 324 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:18,280 Speaker 2: it because he has expectations in that spot that he 325 00:15:18,320 --> 00:15:20,800 Speaker 2: didn't have a second ago. And you just don't want 326 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:23,320 Speaker 2: to surprise a buck too much because they're like middle 327 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:25,440 Speaker 2: aged dudes who are beat down by life and quietly 328 00:15:25,520 --> 00:15:27,400 Speaker 2: just want to fish and hunt pheasants until the grim 329 00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:31,320 Speaker 2: reaper shows up one day. They don't like surprises. And now, 330 00:15:31,320 --> 00:15:35,000 Speaker 2: as a last point, let me say this, if calling 331 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:37,480 Speaker 2: or using sense or running a decoy keeps you out 332 00:15:37,520 --> 00:15:40,480 Speaker 2: there longer it just makes you happy, then by all 333 00:15:40,520 --> 00:15:44,120 Speaker 2: means donuts for donuts. Every one of those things can work. 334 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:46,560 Speaker 2: And whatever it takes to enjoy your time out there, 335 00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:48,840 Speaker 2: or lift your confidence a little, or just get you 336 00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:50,960 Speaker 2: to spend a few extra hours in a tree when 337 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:52,680 Speaker 2: you want to go home and take a nap, it's 338 00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:56,000 Speaker 2: not a bad thing. Just think about that, and good 339 00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:58,520 Speaker 2: luck out there this week. This truly is the time 340 00:15:58,520 --> 00:16:00,480 Speaker 2: to make something happen, and I hope he too, because 341 00:16:00,520 --> 00:16:03,200 Speaker 2: it's freaking sweet when it does. But if it doesn't, 342 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:05,120 Speaker 2: come back next week, because I'm going to get into 343 00:16:05,160 --> 00:16:07,600 Speaker 2: the reality of finding big Bucks when all the shine 344 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:09,720 Speaker 2: is off the old rut apple and it's down to 345 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:13,640 Speaker 2: the pere grind phase of the rut. That's it for 346 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:15,560 Speaker 2: this week. I'm Tony Peterson and this has been the 347 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:17,840 Speaker 2: Wired to Hunt Foundation's podcast, which has brought to you 348 00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:19,840 Speaker 2: by First Light. As always, thank you so much for 349 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:22,280 Speaker 2: listening for all your support. I truly hope you're out 350 00:16:22,320 --> 00:16:25,720 Speaker 2: there right now shooting some big Bucks during the rut. 351 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:27,920 Speaker 2: If you're not, if you're stuck in your office, maybe 352 00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:30,680 Speaker 2: you're stuck on your commute, maybe you're driving somewhere and 353 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:33,160 Speaker 2: you need some entertainment. You know, a podcast, or maybe 354 00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:34,800 Speaker 2: you need a recipe at home to cook up the 355 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:38,240 Speaker 2: backstraps you got in the freezer or whatever. The mediator 356 00:16:38,280 --> 00:16:40,800 Speaker 2: dot com has you covered. You can go there and 357 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:42,640 Speaker 2: learn a ton of stuff. You can go there if 358 00:16:42,640 --> 00:16:44,360 Speaker 2: you just want to be entertained. You can go there 359 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:46,360 Speaker 2: if you just want to watch one of us hunt 360 00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:49,000 Speaker 2: some deer or some other critics somewhere we drop new 361 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:51,320 Speaker 2: content every week. Go check it out at the mediator 362 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:54,000 Speaker 2: dot com and thanks them once again for your support.